Knitting machine



Jan. 3, 1939. F. (5. WEISBECKER KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 29, 1936 FR] 5mm Frayk G. Wei/kecker Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KNITTING MACHINE tion of Pennsylvania Application January 29, 193's, Serial No. 61,399

24 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in knitting machines, and more particularly to means for operating the carrier bars of straight knitting machines, for example, the full-fashioned type commonly used in manufacturing hosiery.

In conventional straight knitting machines, such as those used in knitting full-fashioned hosiery, the feeding of the yarn is effected by a series of reciprocating carrier bars, each supporting a plurality of yarn carriers, one for each needle section; and motion is imparted to selected carrier bars by friction devices driven from the usual Coulier motion mechanism. For straight knitting, the carrier bars are generally operated one at a time to lay a single yarn for each course of fabric. Where increased strength is desired for all or certain portions of the hosiery fabric, for example, the sole and heel portions, each course in these portions is provided with an ad-- ditional or reinforcing yarn. This reinforcing yarn, frequently of cotton, and the main yarn, generally of silk, are laid in a so-called plating operation, which insures positioning of the re inforcing yarn so that it is visible on only one side (the reverse side) of the finished fabric. In the plating operation, two carrier bars (referred to hereinafter, as the main and plating carrier bars) move along the machine to lay two yarns for each course of the reinforced portion of fabric. The main carrier bar is operative to lay the silk yarn, and the plating carrier bar to lay the cotton yarn. To secure the above-mentioned positioning of the two yarns, the main carrier bar leads the plating carrier bar in its movement along the machine. Delayed operation of the plating carrier bar is usually secured by a plating attachment which includes an arresting lever. This lever is adapted to engage a stop on the plating carrier bar and to hold the latter against operation until the main carrier bar has the desired lead. At the proper time, the arresting lever is operated from the slurcock connecting bar to release the plating carrier bar, so that it may follow the main carrier bar. While the plating carrier bar is held by the arresting lever, there is considerable strain on the entire machine as the plating carrier bar is being subjected to the driving action of its friction driving device and the latter slips to permit the arresting lever to hold the plating carrier bar against operation. There are also other important objections to the conventional plating mechanism. For example, it is relatively complicated, and requires frequent adjustment and constant attention. Furthermore, the knitter frequently fails to place the conventional plating attachment in operative condition at the beginning of the plating operation, and as a result, the reinforcing yarn is improperly positioned, and the fabric is spoiled.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a drive for the plating carrier bar which will take the place of both the conventional plating attachment and the drive for the plating carrier bar and which will obviate the above enumerated troubles and objections.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carrier bar drive which will-operate a carrier bar for straight knitting, and which may be adjusted to impart delayed drive to the same carrier bar for plating operations.

It is a further object of the invention to reduce the number of adjustments which must be made when a knitter sets the machine for a plating operation.

In operating conventional knitting machines of the type referred to, it is the usual practice to place carrier bars, including the plating carrier bar, in an extreme position of possible movement when idle and to disconnect each idle carrier bar from its driving element. To restore an idle carrier bar to operative condition. two separate manipulations by the knitter are necessary according to the usual practice. First, the knitter manually shifts a selected carrier bar from idle position to its selvage position where it is set to begin yarn laying movement. Second, the knitter manually connects a frictionally driven element to the shifted carrier bar to provide for its drive.

It is, therefore, another object of this invention to provide a'connection between a carrier bar and its driving element which will require only a single manual manipulation to shift the carrier bar from idle to selvage positions and to connect it to the driving element.

Further objects of this invention and a more detailed description of embodiments of same, will appear below in the description of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure I is a perspective view of mechanism embodying this invention and operatively positioned with relation to one of the carrier bars of a knitting machine.

Figure II is a rear elevational view of the mechanism shown in Figure I.

Figure III is a vertical view partly in cross section and taken generally on line III-J11 of Figure II. VI

Figure IV is a side elevational view of a modification of the mechanism shown in Figures I to I11.

Figures V to VII show three relative positions which may be assumed by the carrier bar dog and its operating or driving member. W

Referring to the drawing, the mechanism is shown applied to a conventional straight knitting machine having the usual longitudinally reciprocable carrier bars id, carrier bar guide bracket 1 l and longitudinally reciprocable driving member or rod 52. The rod may he the usual friction box rod, or any other suitable member of the machine, which is operated by the conventional Coulier motion, so that it has a fixed movement which is repeated each operation or" machine.

The mechanism, which is shown in the drawing and hich may be ruled a plating attachment anused for plating purposes, is adapted to transmit the drive to one or" the carrier has ill, for example, the so-called plating from the reciprocating driving rod i" carrier h r A are ample by inclu y reciproclutch comprises a split friction having an inner lining of suitable friction material and positioned in a groove in the per phery of a drull Friction band 55 is contra ole around said drum i5 and within its groove to chest frictional driving relation thercbetween. W'hen band is contracted about and oscillated by drum i8, the drive i' transmitted to the carrier bar 56 through intermezhary or" driving connections described i detail hereinafter.

The means for controlling the driving engage- -lent of band l5 with drum ill comprises ups-tanding lugs ll formed on adjacent ends of tr e hand 15, a. U-shaped strap or link extending across the outer face or one lug i? and along both sides oi. lugs ll, and a cam lever i9 pivotally supported by strap :2 so that its cam face may have engagement with the outer face of the adjacent lug ll. A set screw 28 extending through strap l8 and bearing on one of the lugs iT-provides means for adjusting the degree of frictional engagement between the friction band and drum 56 when cam lever i9 is moved counter-clockwise (see Figure 11) to the operative position shown in Figures I and H to draw lugs 1? together causing friction band 15 to grip the annular surface within the groove of the drum l8. Clockwise movement of cam lever 18 (see Figure II) permits band 15 to expand due to its inherent resiliency and to interrupt its drive by drum 16.

The rotary clutch device is mounted on one end of the rockshaft 23, to which drum I6 is keyed in driving relation. The drive of rockshaft 23 from rod 12 is secured by a rocker arm 24, slide 25, link 26, sleeve 21 and collars 28. Slide 25 carried by arm 2 may be adjusted along the length thereof and is held in adjusted position by any suitable means. Sleeve 21 and collars 28 provide an adjustable driving connection between rod 12 and link 25. Sleeve 21, therefore, is slidably mounted on rod l2 and driven in opposite directions by collars 28 adjustably secured to rod 12 to provide driving abutments. For straight knitting, both collars 28 are shifted to positions in which they engage opposite ends of sleeve 21 and are secured in place to prevent relative movement between rod 12 and sleeve 27. In this position of adjustment, no play or lost motion is possible between sleeve 2'! and collars 28, and link 28 follows the movement of rod :2.

If the attachment is to be used for plating, delayed operation of its carrier bar (now the plating carrier bar) in beginning movement in both directions of travel is desired. Collars 28 therefore, shifted along rod l2 and away from sleeve 27 to provide a two-Way lost-motion drivtion and by any the conventional drivi vice. the ett n for lost-moti ing n mac s s shaft ns colla e The driving members or connections (previously referred to) between friction band i and carrier bar 53 driven thereby cons t operating arm or element id projecting from band and a dog il secured to the carrier bar Dog 5i has upstanding portions d2, 43 of difierent height at either side of a socket for receiving the rounded end or suitably shaped tip of arm Arm 4B and dog are so designed and propo tioned that they are capable of reciprocating the associated carrie. oar 5-3 the maximum required range or" movement. In platdistance or desired ing, the stroke of the plating carrier bar is, in general, relatively short and arm moves through but a small are in reciprocating the carrier bar iii.

The illustrated design for arm in and dog 4! permits them to be disengaged or separated to interrupt the drive between band l5 and the carrier oar ill to be driven thereby. This separable relation makes it possible to move arm 40 to a raised inoperative position (see Figure VII) so that carrier bar 10 is free to be operated in any desired manner by any suitable conventional driving mechanism (not shown).

The illustrated construction of arm 40 and dog II also insures setting of arm 40 in position for automatic reengagement when the knitter interrupts the drive of the carrier bar H! by operating the handle 44 on carrier bar I0 to shift the latter in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure VI until it passes beyond its normal range of movement and arrives at the idle position. In such movement of the carrier bar I 0, projection 43 passes under the end of arm 40 and places the latter in the position shown in Figure VI. When the driving relation is to be restored, the knitter simply moves the carrier bar Ill (Figure VI) to the right, that is, from idle to operative positions, by means of handle II. The carrier bar will now enter its normal range of movement, and the higher pojection 42 will engage arm II and cause the latter to enter the socket in dog M for the driving relation illustrated in Figures I and. V.

Projections 42 and 43 may be of the same height. This construction would also permit automatic disengagement between arm 40 and dog 4| when the carrier bar I is shifted beyond its normal range of movement.

The present invention also provides means (about to be described) for exerting a braking action to yieldingly hold the clutch comprising drum I6 and friction band I when the latter is contracted about the drum I6 and there is an interruption in the drive of the drum. The means referred to are effective to hold the clutch in any set position during reversal of the lost-motion drive or in the positions shown in Figures VI and VII.

As shown in Figures II and III,- the braking means for yieldingly holding band I5 in set position, when it is contracted about drum I6 and the latter is not being driven, may comprise a split friction ring or band 50 encircling the drum extension 36 and resting in a peripheral groove therein. Band 50 is held contracted about drum extension 36 by a set screw 5| which adjustably connects the two ends of the split ring or band 56 to vary the frictional engagement between the latter and the drum extension 36. Friction band 50 is held against movement and is secured to bearing bracket 35 by a bolt 52 having lock nuts 53. Friction band 50 functions to yieldingly hold drum I6 in any set position when the latter is not operating and is of the same general splitring shape as friction band I5. The friction band 50 also provides a frictional engagement with drum extension 36 considerably less in degree than the frictional engagement between band I5 and drum I6 when both bands are operative. The primary function of band 5|] is that of a brake, it being operative to prevent movement of drum I6 while the drive between collars 28 and sleeve 21 is interrupted (due to setting of collars 28 for lost-motion drive) during the time rod I2 is reversing its movement and moving in the opposite direction to the extent of the lost-motion. If drum I6 is not being driven and is operatively engaged by friction band I5, arm 40 may be adjusted to either of the positions shown in Figures VI and VII, and band 50 will function to maintain such setting.

Figure IV shows a modified means for yieldingly holding band I5, and also drum I6 when it has driving relation with band I5, in set positions. rigidly supported by bracket 35 and carrying a detent or spring 6| which rides on the surface of band I5 and is adapted to have impositive engagement with notches 62 and 63 in band I5. When spring 6| engages notch 62, band I5 is yieldingly held to position arm 40 as in Figure VI. When spring GI engages notch 63, band I5 is yieldingly held to position arm 40 as in Figure VII. Detent or spring 6I also cooperates with band I5 to hold the latter in set position when it is contracted about drum I6 and the lostmotion drive for drum I6 is being reversed.

Where the advantages of both the friction ring 50 and the detent 6| devices are to be secured, the carrier bar driving attachment may be provided with both devices. In this case, the detent 6I may be supported for adjustment to either an operative position (shown in Figure IV) or an inoperative position when its retarding action on the drive of band I5 is not desired at any particular time.

The modified means comprises a bar 60- Where it is desirable to operate two plating carrier bars at the same time, the machine may be provided with two of the attachments shown and described herein. Each attachment would drive a separate plating carrier bar in the manner described above. For the convenience of the knitter, the two attachments may be placed at opposite ends of the machine and adjacent the operating handles 44 of the carrier bars they are to drive. If preferred, however, the two attachments may be positioned close to one another and at any suitable point on the machine.

If the attachment is to be used for straight knitting, the drum I6 might be widened and provided with a number of bands I5, each operating a separate carrier bar III, in accordance with the present disclosure.

A carrier bar driving attachment constructed in accordance with the present invention may be readily mounted on the conventional machine of today, and the cost of manufacture and installation of such attachment is relatively inexpensive.

It will be also understood that this attachment may be used on both leggers and footers. Other uses of this invention will be apparent from the foregoing description and accompanying drawing.

From an understanding of this invention, it is clear that other forms and modifications embodying same may be readily devised, and all forms and modifications coming within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, are considered a part of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a mechanism for driving a carrier bar of a straight knitting machine, the combination comprising a rotary clutch device for impositively imparting reciprocating motion to said carrier bar, a member for driving said clutch device having uniform movement in each operation of the machine, and a lost-motion twoway driving connection between. said driving member and said clutch device to provide predetermined delayed operation of the clutch device in driving said carrier bar in both directions of movement and with respect to the operation of said driving member.

2. In a plating attachment for driving a carrier bar of a straight knitting machine, the combination comprising a rotary clutch device for impositively imparting reciprocating motion to said carrier bar, a member for driving said clutch device, a lost-motion driving connection between said driving member and said clutch device to provide predetermineddelayed operation of the clutch device, and a pair of disengageable driving elements carried by said carrier bar and clutch device respectively, to provide for drive of the carrier bar by said clutch device, the element carried by said bar having upstanding lugs spaced apart to provide a socket for receiving in driving relation the element carried by said clutch device and for permitting quick disconnection of the drive between said clutch device and said carrier bar by disengagement between said elements as the carrier bar and clutch are moved to an inoperative position.

3. In a mechanism for driving a carrier bar of a straight knitting machine, the combination of a driving member, a driven member, and a driving connection between said members comprising an element secured to one of said members and slidably mounted on the other of said members, and a pair of abutments adjustable along said other member and secured thereto on opposite sides of said element for driving engagement therewith.

4. In a mechanism for driving a carrier bar of a straight knitting machine, the combination of a driving member, a driven member, one of said members being in the form of a longitudinal- 1y reciprocative rod, and a driving connection between said members comprising a sleeve slidably mounted on said rod member and secured to the other of said members, a pair of collars mounted on said rod member at opposite sides of said sleeve for driving engagement therewith and adjustable along said rod, and means for securing said collars to said rod in adjusted po sition.

5. In a mechanism for driving a carrier bar of a straight knitting machine, the combination comprising a rotary clutch device for reciprocating said carrier bar, a driving member, a lostmotion driving connection between said driving member and said clutch device, and means for maintaining said clutch device in set position during interruption by said lost-motion connection of the drive between said member and said clutch device.

6. In a mechanism for driving a carrier bar of a straight knitting machine, the combination comprising a rotary clutch device including driv ing and driven elements for reciprocating said carrier bar, means for yieldingly maintaining one of said elements when inoperative in set position relative to its axis, a driving member, and a lost-motion driving connection between said driving member and said clutch device.

7. In a mechanism for driving a carrier bar of a straight knitting machine, the combination comprising a rotary clutch device, a driving mem her, a lost-motion connection between said driving member and said clutch device and opera tive to oscillate the latter, connections between said carrier bar and clutch device operative to drive the bar upon oscillation of said device, and means for yieldingly maintaining said clutch evice, when not operating, in set position relative to its axis.

8. In a mechanism for driving a carrier bar of a straight knitting machine, the combination comprising a rotary clutch device for reciprocating said bar, a bearing bracket supporting said clutch device for oscillating movement, a driving member for oscillating said clutch device, a lostmotion driving connection between said memher and said device to provide delayed operation of said device and the bar driven thereby, and means permitting oscillation of said device and operative to yieldingly maintain the device in set position during interruption in its oscillating movement, said means being connected to said bracket.

9. In a mechanism for driving a carrier bar of a. straight knitting machine, the combination comprising a rotary clutch device for reciprocating said bar, a bearing bracket supporting said clutch device for oscillating movement, a driving member for oscillating said clutch device, a lost-motion driving connection between said member and said device to provide delayed operation of said device and the bar driven thereby, and an element secured to said bracket and frictionally engaging a part of said clutch device to yieldingly maintain thedevice in set position during interruption in its oscillating movement.

10. In a mechanism for driving a carrier bar of a straight knitting machine, the combination comprising a rotary clutch device including a notched clutch band for reciprocating said bar, a bearing bracket supporting said clutch device for oscillating movement, a. driving member for oscillating said clutch device, a lost-motion driving connection between said member and said device to provide delayed operation of said device and the bar driven thereby, and a detent mounted on said bracket and adapted to engage a notch in said clutch band to yieldingly maintain the band in set position while inoperative.

11. In a straight knitting machine having two reciprocating carrier bars and separate friction clutch devices to provide independent operation of the two carrier bars, a driving mechanism for one of said carrier bars, said mechanism comprising a driving member and means interposed between said driving member and said carrier bar for imparting predetermined delayed operation to said carrier bar with respect to the other of said two carrier bars, said means comprising a friction clutch device and a lost-motion twoway driving connection whereby one of said carrier bars is given a predetermined lead with respect to the other carrier bar in a yarn laying o eration.

12. In a straight knitting machine having two reciprocating carrier bars and separate friction clutch drives to provide independent operation of the two carrier bars, a driving mechanism for one of said carrier bars, said mechanism comprising a friction clutch device for reciprocating said carrier bar, a reciprocating bar for driving said clutch device, an element operatively connected to said friction clutch device in driving relation, and a pair of driving abutmcnts secured to said bar on opposite sides of said element and adjustable relative to each other along the bar to provide with said element a lost-motion connection for imparting delayed operation to said clutch device in driving said carrier bar.

13. In a straight knitting machine, the combination comprising a carrier bar to be reciprocated within a given range of movement and having an idle position beyond said range, a driving element for reciprocating said carrier bar over said range of movement and mounted on the machine, means for yieldingly maintaining said element in a set, inoperative position, a member to be driven by said element and secured to said carrier bar to provide for said reciprocation, said member being adapted to actuate said element in said set position during movement of the carrier bar from idle position to automatically efiect a two-way driving engagement between said member and said element for reciprocating said carrier bar during the driving operation of said element.

14-. In a straight knitting machine, the com-- bination comprising a carrier bar to be reciprocated within a given range of movement and having an idle position beyond said range, a driving element for reciprocating said carrier bar over said range of movement and mounted on the machine, means for yieldingly maintain-- ing said element in a set, inoperative position, a member to be driven by said element and secured to said carrier bar to provide for said reciprocation, said member being adapted to actuate said element in said set position during movement of the carrier bar from idle position to automatically efiect a two-way driving engagement between said member and said element for reciprocating said carrier bar during the driving operation of said element, said member being adapted to release said element and to place said element in said set position during movement of said carrier bar back to said idle position.

15. In a device for driving a carrier bar of a straight knitting machine, in which the carrier bar is to be reciprocated over a given range of movement by the device and is to be positioned beyond said range during its periods of idleness,

, the combination comprising a dog carried by said to automatically release the carrier bar from,

operation by said driving member upon movement of said carrier bar beyond said range of movement.

16. In a device for driving a carrier bar of a straight knitting machine, inwhich the carrier bar is to be reciprocated over a given range of movement by the device and is to be positioned beyond said range during its periods of idleness, the combination comprising a dog carried by said carrier bar, said dog having projecting portions of different height spaced longitudinally of the carrier bar to provide a socket therebetween, a driving member having oscillatory movement, and an element for engagement within said socket and carried by said driving member for movement in an arcuate path, to which the movement of said dog is tangential, and means for yieldingly maintaining said element in the line of movement of the higher portion of said dog but outside of the line of movement of the lower portion, whereby movement of the carrier bar from idle to operative positions causes the lower dog portion to pass said element and the higher portion to move said element into said socket for efiecting automatic driving engagement between said element and said dog.

17. In a mechanism for driving a carrier bar of a straight knitting machine, the combination comprising a rotary clutch device for reciprocating said carrier bar, two-way driving connections between said clutch device and said carrier bar, said driving connections being disengageable to interrupt the drive of said carrier bar, and means including a stationary element for yieldingly maintaining said clutch device in set position relative to said stationary element during disengagement of said driving connection.

18. In a straight-knitting machine having two reciprocating carrier bars and separate friction clutch devices to provide independent operation of the two carrier bars, a driving mechanism for one of said carrier bars, said mechanism comprising a driving member and means interposed between said driving member and said carrier bar for imparting predetermined delayed operation to the last-mentioned carrier bar with respect to the other carrier bar, said means comprising a friction clutch device and an adjustable lost-motion two-way driving connection, whereby one of said carrier bars is given a predetermined lead with respect to the other carrier bar in a yarn laying operation.

19. In a straight knitting machine having two carrier bars to be used respectively as main and rier bar and providing for delayed operation thereof to allow a predetermined lead of said main carrier bar over said plating carrier bar in their movement along the machine, said device comprising a'friction clutch device for impositively reciprocating the plating-carrier bar, a driving member, and a lost-motion driving connection between said driving member and said clutch device, said lost-motion connection providing said delayed operation of said plating carrier bar, and said clutch device providing the drive for said plating carrier bar after said main carrier bar has secured said predetermined lead in its operating movement.

20. In a straight knitting machine having two carrier bars to be used respectively as main and plating carrier bars in a plating operation and having means for reciprocating the main carrier bar, a device for reciprocating said plating carier bar and providing for delayed operation thereof to allow a predetermined lead of said main carrier bar over said plating carrier bar in their movement along the machine, said device comprising a rotary friction clutch device for impositively reciprocating the plating carrier bar,

a reciprocable rod driving member, and a lostmotion two-way driving connection between said driving member and said clutch device, said lostmotion connection providing said delayed operation of said plating carrier bar, and said rotary clutch device providingthe drive for said plating carrier bar after said main carrier bar has secured said predetermined lead in its operating movement.

21. In a mechanism for driving a carrier bar of a straight knitting machine, the combination of a driving member, a driven member, and a driving connection between said members comprising an element having driving relation with one of said members and slidably mounted on the other of said members, and driving abutments adjustable along said other member and adapted to be secured thereto on opposite sides of said element for driving engagement therewith.

22. In a straight knitting machine, the combination of a carrier bar member, a reciprocable driving member, and means including three elements mounted on said driving member for transmitting the drive thereof to said carrier bar member, the middle one of said elements being adapted to be frictionally connected in driving relation to one of said members for movement therewith during operation of said carrier bar member, and the other two of said elements being adapted to be connected to the other of said members for movement therewith, said other two elements being so spaced apart as to provide with said middle element a lost-motion driving connection for plating operations of said carrier bar member in both directions of movement of said driving member, said means being also adjustable to provide reciprocatory movement of said three elements as a unit and without said lost-motion when said carrier bar member is to be actuated in normal manner.

23. In a mechanism for driving a carrier bar of a straight knitting machine, the combination of a reciprocable driving rod, a set of drive blocks arranged on said rod to be driven thereby, a member slidably mounted on said rod and arranged between said blocks to be driven thereby during reciprocation of said rod, and means for transmitting the drive of said member to said carrier bar.

24. In a full-fashioned straight knitting machine having a carrier rod and an actuator rod, a device for transmitting the drive of said actuator rod to said carrier rod, said device comprising a rotary friction clutch andea lost-motion driving connection, said connection including two driving elements for actuating an intermediate element alternately in opposite directions, said driving elements being relatively arranged to alternately engage said driven element and provide delayed operation thereof in both directions of movement.

s FRANK G. WEISBECKER. 

